Still don't have a beep card? If you're a regular on the Department of Transportation's new EDSA Busway system, you're going to need one before October 1.
The EDSA Busway will implement a completely cashless payment system beginning October 1, with beep cards as the only accepted form of payment, according to a statement by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). This is part of the agency's initiative to minimize contact on public transportation to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"We want to ensure that commuters along EDSA will have a safer and comfortable travel, while at the same time providing them a more seamless and efficient system of public transport," said DOTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Steve Pastor.
"This will also complement other safety and health protocols already enforced by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases on PUVs, such as the required social distancing, and mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields to board."
Meanwhile, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board head Martin Delgra is reminding commuters to buy and load beep cards as soon as they are able to avoid future inconvenience.
"As we are removing other potential health risks, we also want to limit the time spent in queues and lines that come with having to do cash payments," Delgra stressed.
"We are envisioning that even more public transport vehicles adopt digital transactions, either through QR codes, online payments, or tying up with cashless payment providers such as beep."
Beep stored-value cards are used on the LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3, and by point-to-point buses and modern public utility vehicles. These cards can be loaded at FamilyMart and Ministop convenience stores and Bayad Centers.
Contactless payments may get some taking used to, but there's no denying it's the safer way to go about exchanging money during this pandemic.
Topgear.com.ph. Minor edits have been made by the editors.
this strange new world.